text:
The market for food platform-to-consumer delivery in Asia-Pacific is expanding exponentially. The shift in consumer purchasing habits was brought on by the trend of buying meals through mobile applications. Some of the main factors that have fuelled the market expansion in the region include emerging economies, accessibility, and rising internet and smartphone usage. It is anticipated that the Asia-Pacific Food Platform-to-Consumer Delivery market will expand at a CAGR of 10.52% during the projection period.
- There are more emerging economies in this region than anywhere else, including those of China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Due to its favorable demography, robust consumer class expansion, urbanization, quick technological adoption, and digital transformation, this will continue to be one of the fascinating markets over the next 20 years. The improvement in the region's economic position is causing an increase in consumer spending power, which is a key component in the market's expansion.
- Considering the rising adoption and usage of mobile phones, the population of the Asia-Pacific region is becoming increasingly connected to digital information. The number of smartphone connections in APAC, which was 2 billion in 2021, will increase to 2.5 billion in 2025, according to the GSMA. This smartphone increase will help the Food Platform to Consumer Delivery market in the region because the market mostly operates through mobile applications.
- The APAC region is experiencing internet penetrations and 5G rollout in the region by various companies in an aggressive manner. For instance, the second wave of 5G rollouts is currently taking place in the Asia Pacific, with 5G activities gathering speed in several new markets as of 2021. In May, Telkomsel debuted commercial 5G services in Indonesia. In anticipation of their anticipated commercial deployments in 2022, Airtel and Reliance Jio in India have started testing their 5G networks. This is a driving factor for the Food Platform to Consumer Delivery market in the region because, with good network availability, the customers from rural areas can also use mobile devices to order food online.
- It takes considerable time to order with an online food delivery service. Customers looking for fast food should likely visit the restaurant independently rather than utilizing delivery services. Traffic, weather, a restaurant's level of busyness, and the complexity of a customer's order are frequently to blame for longer wait times for online meal delivery. Every service provider in the industry faces challenges in reducing delivery times while maintaining the same price.
- Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple lockdowns and restriction measures taken by governments have generated a surge in demand for online food delivery services in the region. The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the online meal delivery industry's expansion in Asia-Pacific. Additionally, the contactless delivery services provided by most businesses throughout the pandemic have fuelled industry expansion and transformed customer purchasing habits by establishing a new trend of ordering foods online.
Key Market Trends
Smart Phones and Internet Penetrations in the region are driving the Market
- The incentive for the mass production of more affordable 5G devices to serve customers in lower income groups could come from the introduction of 5G in significant markets with modest average income levels. For instance, Chinese smartphone maker Realme intends to release 5G-capable devices in India in 2022 for just USD 135. This trend will increase the smartphone adoptions in the region, which will indirectly have a positive impact on the Food Platform to Consumer Delivery Market in the region.
- Mobile operators of all sizes are increasingly embracing open RAN solutions for network deployment and operation, signaling a paradigm shift in the mobile industry's network infrastructure models. Operators in the Asia Pacific have different reasons for implementing open RAN including lowering network deployment and operation costs, particularly in low ARPU market situations like those in rural communities. For example, Axiata Group aims to close the digital divide in rural Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka by launching commercial open RAN networks by the end of 2021 with extensive installations. Axiata's partners in its open RAN concept include Mavenir, Parallel Wireless, and systems integrator Infosys. This is driving the Internet Penetration across the region and with this increased accessibility the no of users for Food Platform to Consumer Delivery Applications is increasing in the region.
- In addition, Indosat Ooredoo has teamed up with the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) and Parallel Wireless to carry out a 4G Open RAN field trial. To develop open-RAN compliant technologies for its 5G networks, NTT Docomo collaborated with Samsung to provide users with better 5G services. To launch a 5G network, state-owned National Telecom (NT) has teamed up with Mavenir, 5GCT, and Cisco to open RAN smart city initiative in Thailand's Ban Chang. These all are showing the trend of internet penetration in the region, which is indirectly driving the market.
- The COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years has shown how crucial connectedness is to society's well-being. As a result, ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality, affordable connectivity has risen to the list of priorities for governments in the Asia Pacific and beyond. Mobile connectivity was a lifeline for people and communities during the pandemic, especially for those who had little or no access to traditional types of connectivity. This has impacted the consumers' mindset and enhanced the trust level for online purchases, which is indirectly driving the market in the region.
- According to GSMA, 1.23 billion people in Asia and the Pacific have mobile internet subscriptions by the end of 2021. This amounted to 44% of the total population in the area. Up to 2025, an additional 264 million individuals are anticipated to sign up for mobile internet for the first time, bringing the total number of internet subscribers to 1.49 billion, which is equal to 52% of the population in the region.
Rising Purchasing Power and Immense younger Population in the Region
- A distinctive and varied collection of economies that serve as a model of the world may be found in Asia and the Pacific region. Along with very small island economies, landlocked economies, and some of the most populated economies in the world, it contains. Additionally, it covers lower-middle-income to high-income economies with a broad variety of statistical capabilities. Emerging economies such as China, India, and Indonesia with developed countries such as Japan, Singapore, and South Korea are contributing to the regions' increasing purchasing power.
- The increasing purchasing power in the region is causing the people's demand for varieties of foods. Through Food Platform to Consumer Delivery, users can have multiple opportunities for food selections. According to Rabobank, Asian consumers' food spending is expected to double by 2030, creating a huge opportunity for investors to provide customers with healthier and more environmentally friendly options.
- In addition, according to the group's "Asia Food Challenge Report 2021," food spending in the region will reach USD 8 trillion by the beginning of the next decade, up from USD 4 trillion in 2019, becoming the largest food and beverage market in the world. It indirectly enhances the Food Platform to Consumer Delivery Market because most of the customers are preferring to buy foods through online delivery platforms.
- The customers in the region are giving priority to the quality of food with the increasing economies. To increase the level of trust among the customers, companies are trying to add their service offerings. For instance, Food panda introduced Green Label, a first-of-its-kind program by a Singaporean food delivery service to advance the sustainability movement through a restaurant certification program.
- According to UNICEF report, a quarter of the world's adolescents live in the East Asia and Pacific region, which is about 329 million. Being more connected, knowledgeable, and eager to offer new perspectives, young people in the region play an important role as change agents. This is driving the APAC Food Platform to Consumer Delivery Market because the young population is generally tech friendly and prefers the online mode of food purchasing.
Due to the presence of various global and regional players in the market the competition among the companies is very high. Due to the trend of startups, many emerging players are coming up in the market and making it more dynamic. Companies are trying to acquire the market share through various business strategies such as brand promotions, and discount coupon offerings.
- August 2022: Hands-On Trades Private Limited, a provider of storage and auxiliary services for Blinkit, has been acquired by Zomato Hyperpure Private Limited, the food delivery service's business-to-business (B2B) restaurant supply division. Zomato intends to begin integrating Blinkit after the acquisition, beginning with customers and delivery fleets. It might also think about transferring Blinkit to the Zomato app.
- August 2022: GoFood, an online food delivery service, has been launched on the Tokopedia app by GoTo Group, the combined company of Indonesian internet companies Gojek and Tokopedia, to capitalize on integration synergies. The service is currently accessible in the Greater Jakarta region, where customers can also utilize the GoPay e-wallet to make payments.
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support


text:
Scammers Use Fake COVID-19 Test Websites to Steal Your Personal Info, BBB Warns
Highly opportunistic scammers have been capitalizing on the pandemic in any way possible to compromise the financial and personal information of consumers worldwide.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning US consumers of scammers who set up fake websites that offer COVID-19 testing to harvest personal and insurance information from unwary victims. Con artists have set up phony testing sites that perform fake tests, never sending the results to patients. Once potential victims have arrived on site, the scammers take photographs of the patient's driver’s license and medical insurance cards while completing a form with their data.
Read the full article below:

domain: news


text:
C&C gains as the UK moves to 'untie' pub trade
Shares in Bulmers and Tennent's maker C&C were up 4pc by mid afternoon in Dublin yesterday amid speculation that the Irish company stands to benefit from changes to the laws governing the British pub trade.
On Tuesday night the House of Commons unexpectedly passed a measure that would give some pubs more freedom in choosing beer suppliers.
About half of Britain's 50,000 pubs are "tied" - meaning they have to buy their beer from companies that own their lease above market prices, in return for other benefits.
But if it becomes law, the measure passed on Tuesday would give tied pubs the option to choose between a tied agreement and a market rent only agreement that would allow them to buy beer on the open market.
UK government plans had ruled out a rent-only option, citing concerns that it could hurt companies and the industry.
Goodbody analyst Liam Igoe told the Irish Independent that the measure could open up opportunities for C&C.
"If in time a proportion of [tied pubs], say half of those, decide to break the tie and buy their drinks or beverages in the open market, that will open up opportunities for the likes of C&C, who basically increase their potential market in the UK in the on trade, which is their core market."
But Mr Igoe said he didn't see the proposal as a game changer for C&C.
The proposals still have to pass through several legislative stages before becoming law, and could hurt pub groups like Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns.
Shares in both those companies were down over 15pc yesterday afternoon.
The Campaign for Real Ale group said the vote was a "landmark victory."
"Allowing over 13,000 pub tenants tied to the large pub companies the option of buying beer on the open market at competitive prices will help keep pubs open and ensure the cost of a pint to consumers remains affordable. The large pub companies will no longer be able to charge their tenants prices up to 60 pence a pint higher than open market prices," the group's chief executive Tim Page said.
But Numis analyst Douglas Jack said he expected legal challenges, and that the changes would further deter landlords from investing in the industry.
The British Beer and Pub Association called the passage of the measure a "hugely damaging" decision and said it could prompt the closure of 1,400 more pubs with 7,000 job losses, citing a study commissioned by the UK government.
C&C recently made a preliminary takeover approach for UK-based pub company Spirit, which was rejected by the Spirit board in favour of a proposed merger with the Greene King pub group.
Shares in Spirit were down over 6pc yesterday afternoon in London, while Greene King had lost over 4.5pc.
Greene King has previously said that a mandatory free-of-tie option for pub tenants would have a hugely negative impact on it.
Greene King told a UK parliamentary committee that it "strongly believed" that "the model is not broken and that it will continue to evolve over time as an integral part of our diversified business."
(Additional reporting by Bloomberg and Reuters)


text:
This week, Pokemon fever continues, Social media reacts to an attempted coup in Turkey, an open letter from tech leaders to Donald Trump, Facebook’s diversity problem, Netflix boldly goes where noone has gone before ..and much, much more!
This week, Facebook Home, Anonymous hacks North Korea, Thunderbolt gets bolt-ier, Google Fiber rolls out to Austin, Bitcoin hits a bubble, Wikileaks wants to make a ‘Library of Congress’ of secret government documents, and we say goodbye to Roger Ebert.
This week we discuss the return of the PlayStation Store, Chinese labor camp prisoners forced to gold farm, Mark Zuckerberg’s eat-what-you-kill diet & his thoughts on privacy anxiety, Google’s +1 button for websites, Twitter’s Follow button & partnerships with Firefox and Photobucket, Samsung vs. Apple, and Apple’s upcoming WWDC announcements.
Later, we discuss the escalating consequences of cyberhacking, Google’s Wallet, and a preview of Windows 8.
We discuss the effect the bin Laden raid had on global twitter traffic (and one tweeter in particular), Sony gets hit with a second round of security breaches, Apple updates their iMacs, rental laptops spy on their rentees, Warner Brothers buys Rotten Tomatoes, and The Woz tells Paul Allen to stop trolling.
Later we discuss the decline of TV ownership and DVD/Blu-Ray sales and why that’s an indicator of the new way we watch content; Julian Assange says Facebook is the most appalling spy machine that has ever been invented; and we breakdown the new upcoming Star Wars box sets.
Welcome to the first retooled, shorter format episode of The Drill Down. It’s a work in progress, and we definitely welcome your feedback, either in this post thread below, or at email@example.com. This week, hosts Tom Cheredar and Andrew Sorcini discuss the iPad 2, Facebook’s Like button is now a share button, how Charlie Sheen got verified on Twitter and much more.
This week we invite one of our most avid live show chat room members, Morebanter, to step behind the curtain and sit in on the tech roundtable. We discuss the premiere of Apple’s iPhone (and the iPad) on Verizon’s network, Myspace axes 47% of their staff, Twitter stands up to a government subpoena about Wikileaks, Apple’s Mac App store opens, Skype acquires Qik, Groupon raises, like, a billion dollars, and Facebook’s new Profile goes live to all users.


text:
A visual from Agent Provocateur's Menage a Trois Whatsapp campaign
LONDON — In an ongoing search to find new ways to engage today's digitally savvy consumer, brands and retailers are starting to use WhatsApp to get up close and personal with customers — and generate sales.
So far, the use of WhatsApp has been limited to personal shopping departments as part of a wider strategy for retailers to be present in the lives of their top-tier customers through any channel that suits them. But now retailers have spotted a bigger opportunity to take the platform beyond personal shopping.
Steve Aoki held a presentation, a runway show and outdoor concert for his men's line Dim Mak. Here's a look from his spring 2018 collection, which was titled "Paradise Found." #wwdfashion #wwdmens (📷: George Chinsee)
"It's really hard sometimes. I think I have a reputation for being really tough and aggressive and pushy but I really am a very shy person who wants to be liked, and that's the conflict constantly. There's something that takes hold - I want people to like me, I don't want to be mean - but if I see something that just cries out to be answered, I go for it," says renowned NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell. (📷: @axeldupeux)


text:
Oregon’s largest newspaper has plenty to say about the costs of a proposed law that would force the state’s food producers and grocers to label foods containing genetically improved ingredients. “If we had evidence that genetically engineered food was harmful,” The Oregonian’s editorial reads, “those costs might be worth paying… As it is, we have no such evidence.”
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a coalition of groups aligned against Oregon’s “Measure 27” commissioned a study to determine just what those costs might be. The result: “A labeling law would cost an average Oregon family $550 a year.” And the state’s administrative agencies have estimated that the Oregon Department of Agriculture alone will have to spend over $17 million in the first year, just to keep up with the labeling requirements.
There’s one particular line in the text of Measure 27 that could make the law even more dangerous. It says that labels must be added to foods and beverages if they are “derived from, or prepared with, genetically-engineered material, regardless of whether that material is present in the final product.”
Huh? That’s like warning people who are lactose-intolerant to steer clear of beef, because calves drink milk. It doesn’t matter whether the milk “is present in the final product,” right?
If you’re still not sure what to think about this Oregon election battle, consider the reliability of the players lined up on either side. Those who have certified genetically improved foods as safe for human consumption include the American Dietetic Association, the World Health Organization, and the American Medical Association. The AMA even has a policy statement that reads: “There is no scientific justification for special labeling of genetically modified foods.”
On the other side of the ball are fringe activists, Ralph Nader-inspired counter-culturalists, and organic food companies (whose sales would skyrocket if Americans can be taught to fear food technology).


text:
The Nigeria government has been urged to ensure accessibility of electricity, internet and other digital public services to boost intra Africa trade and enhance the effective implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This was among recommendations made in a report released at the end of a hybrid roundtable organised by the European Union (EU), the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Single Currency and Fintech to boost Intra Africa Trade and enhance AfCFTA implementation in Senegal.
The roundtable was organised to assess the progress made towards a Monetary Union at Regional levels in Africa as a priority for achieving continental monetary policy harmonisation leading to a single currency – AFRO by 2023.
The report also urged the government to evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of digitalising public services and also scale up digital education and skills building, including in the public sector.
The delegates at the round table said tertiary education is relevant for the 4th Industrial Revolution adding that the African governments should take a whole-of-government or holistic approach to digital strategizing and development.
It was stated in the report the pilot phase of Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) aimed at facilitating the smooth implementation of AfCFTA has commenced in Nigeria and other countries of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ).
“The system, which would be ready at the end of 2021, was the first major step taken in addressing some challenges related to the cost of currency convertibility under AfCFTA implementation. Afreximbank is the operator and the main settlement agent for PAPSS and expected to provide settlement guarantee on the payment system as well as overdraft facilities to all settlement agents,” the report stated.
It was agreed that the establishment of the African Investment Bank and the Pan African Stock Exchange; the African Monetary Fund and the African Central Bank (to be Headquartered in Nigeria) and the Single African Currency is crucial for the effective implementation of AfCFTA.
In her submission at the roundtable, the Ms. LadiBala-Keffi, Deputy Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria said the bank had been involved in the AfCFTA Agreement from inception.
She said Nigeria has resilient payment infrastructures which enhance the selection of Nigeria to become the hub for payment in Africa.
The Senior Advisor at the United Nations of Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Mr. Adeyinka Adeyemi said the presentations and the ensuing discussions and debates laid the foundations for achieving continental monetary policy harmonization leading to a single currency and the smooth implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Media/Strategy Officer, ACCI


text:
Beyoncé’s onstage pregnancy reveal at the 2011 VMAs was an unforgettable moment in pop culture history — but it created some “stressful” moments for the superstar’s mom.
Tina Knowles-Lawson, who famously designed performance outfits for her daughter (and her Destiny’s Child bandmates) for years, opened up about the fashion feat on Instagram Wednesday.
“Well this was a stressful night, at least it began that way!!!,” the stylish matriarch, 67, began her lengthy caption.
“Two hours before the performance we realized that the pants that I had gotten made were too tight and uncomfortable; the panel that I had put in them was not stretchy enough.”
With no time to spare, Mama Tina headed to the nearest maternity store.
“Two hours before the performance I was at A Pea in the Pod,” she continued. “I bought two sizes in maternity pants but wound up taking the panel off of one of them and putting it in the ones that I had made!”
Luckily, the last-minute DIY worked flawlessly.
“When she opened that jacket and showed her stomach it was the biggest relief ever,” Knowles-Lawson recalled.
“We didn’t have to keep the secret anymore. I didn’t have to design with the first priority being to camouflage the growing belly! … It was the best feeling in the world to [see] her show the whole world that tummy.”
To belt out “Love On Top” at the VMAs a decade ago — and show everyone she was pregnant with daughter Blue Ivy — Beyoncé paired the stretchy pants with a purple sequined Dolce & Gabbana blazer, a white button-down shirt and platform heels.
Commenters were in awe of Knowles-Lawson’s story: “Creator of surprise pregnancies!!!” one fan quipped, while another wrote, “I loooveee the BTS commentary Mama Tina keep it coming.”
“One of the most iconic nights in music history. I remember this vividly,” a third added.
Knowles-Lawson also recently shared a fun fact about the purple-and-green Versace dress Beyoncé wore to perform “Crazy in Love” at the 2003 BET Awards: She hacked off the look’s long hemline herself.


text:
The auto industry is just beginning to adjust to a post-peak SAAR reality. In this environment, some dealers may be tempted to put their faith in overall economic confidence and key projections pointing toward stronger auto sales beyond 2017. Regardless of whether consumer demand rebounds, dealers need to think beyond new car sales and growth and consider the service department’s potential to drive revenue and growth.
Untapped opportunity in the service department is abundant. With fewer than one in three service visits taking place at dealerships in the U.S., according to J.D. Power, dealers have a compelling opportunity to engage customers beyond the initial sale. Here are three ways to do exactly that:
1. Educate the Customer.
It is the dealer’s responsibility to educate and engage customers in all facets of the dealership, including service. According to the Cox Automotive 2017 Car Buyer Journey, less than half of new-car buyers and only one-fourth of used-car buyers are aware of the service capabilities available at the dealership at the time of purchase or lease.
Introducing customers to the service department not only results in a more positive experience, but also makes customers more likely to return for their service needs as well as when they are ready to purchase their next vehicle.
2. Invest in the Right Technology.
Customers today are looking for technology enhanced experiences that provide value, convenience, and trust. Investing in the right technology can help you deliver on all three throughout the customer journey.
Through the proper utilization of an integrated CRM, you can start connecting with customers before it’s time for service. The CRM should be used to book the first service appointment at the time of vehicle purchase. This approach creates a connected customer experience that will help grow customer loyalty and as a result drive fixed ops revenue by tying the experience together from the start.
3. Schedule Appointments Online.
Another vital service feature dealers should invest in to boost revenue is online scheduling capabilities. New Xtime research shows that 23% of online customers schedule their visits outside of the business hours of a dealership. If you don’t have online scheduling capabilities, these customers are likely lost to a competitor who does. By meeting customers where they are at the time they wish on their device of choice, you can deliver the flexibility and convenience that customers desire and that your dealership will benefit from.
For dealers implementing online scheduling, education is once again critical to getting your customers to utilize it. A Cox Automotive report found that while 76% of customers who scheduled service appointments online would be willing to do so again, 45% of customers are not taking advantage of online scheduling because they did not know it was an option. By simply enhancing communication efforts, you can set the stage for service department growth.
The bottom line for dealers in this post-peak SAAR environment comes down to creating a seamless customer experience that transcends the point of purchase. Re-engaging customers beyond the initial sale through superior communication and innovative technology will allow for a more simplified, convenient, and connected experience, ultimately driving retention and revenue on both sides of the dealership. In a challenging sales environment, now is the time for dealers capitalize on the white space in the service department.
Jim Roche is senior vice president of marketing and managed services for Xtime (div. Cox Automotive). Email him at [email protected].


text:
Oscar Mayer is expanding its so-called WienerFleet ahead of a July 4th celebration for its new line of hot dogs. The fleet, which currently consists of the iconic Wienermobile, WienerMini and WienerRover, will now include the new WienerDrone and WienerCycle.
Oscar Mayer says the new vehicles coincide with a recently announced recipe overhaul to remove all added nitrates and nitrites, by-products and artificial preservatives from the meat in its entire line of hot dogs. Oscar Mayer is now going to great lengths all summer long to get the new hot dogs in hands across America.
“We knew that was a job for more than just our existing Wienermobile,” comments Greg Guidotti, head of marketing at Oscar Mayer. “So, we’ve expanded our Oscar Mayer fleet, ensuring every American can taste the new recipe because we believe everyone deserves a better hot dog.”
The new WienerDrone and WienerCycle are fully equipped vehicles specifically built to deliver the new Oscar Mayer hot dogs. Oscar Mayer says WienerDrone is the first unmanned hot-dog-carrying aircraft designed for remote location delivery, and the WienerCycle is a three-wheeled moped, ideal for tricky urban deliveries, traveling on land with a sidecar that doubles as a hot dog warming station.
The five unique vehicles in WienerFleet will set off on a journey to no better place than Weiner, Ark., for a Fourth of July celebration.


text:
Beauty businesses are kicking off 2022 with a handful of new executive hires.
Kao has made two new executive appointments to start the year. The consumer goods company has promoted two senior executives to its global management teams.
Karen Frank has become its president of consumer care, Americas and EMEA. She has led the consumer care business in the region in a handful of roles.
Dominic Pratt, who was named global president of the salon division, has been with the company since 2000. Pratt started out as a senior scientist and invented key technologies used in Goldwell Pure Pigments as well as other products. He was most recently its vice president of research and development in its European research laboratories, a role he has held since 2019.
Ren Clean Skincare has also named a new chief executive officer, as reported by WWD. The brand’s new CEO, Michelle Brett, succeeds Arnaud Meysselle, and joins from fellow Unilever-owned brand Living Proof.
In direct response to its rapid growth, Peace Out Skincare has hired its first global director of brand and product marketing. Sabrina Punja is filling the role, who has worked in marketing across Kendo, Bobbi Brown and Elizabeth Arden. The brand isn’t done filling out its executive team, though, and is looking for other marketing executives.
Device company LightStim is also looking to the professional channel with its latest addition to its team. Julie Andrews, who spent 20 years at Kerstin Florian Skincare as president and creative director, is now LightStim’s vice president of spa and wellness development.
A celebrity hairstylist is also making his way onto the corporate ladder. Mark Townsend, who counts Dakota Johnson, Gal Gadot, and the Olsen siblings as clients, is coming onto Collective Labs as its creative director. A statement from the brand credited his move to his own experiences with the products after his own hair loss journey.
Gen-Z skin care brand Topicals has also created a new position. It has appointed Tahirah Hairston its first editorial director, after her stint as Teen Vogue’s fashion and beauty director. She has written for Complex, Bon Appetit, British Vogue, The Wine, Vogue, The Cut, Vulture, Refinery29 and Garage Magazine as well.
For more from WWD.com, see:
Beauty Executive Moves at Walgreens, Revlon and SuperOrdinary
Executive Moves at Estée Lauder Cos., Maesa and Prose
Peace Out’s Enrico Frezza on Business, Expansion and Races to Win


text:
Several financial firms have started offering this investment product to let you invest in futures contracts for Bitcoin. Since 2020, there has been an exponential increase in frauds and cybercrimes related to stealing Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies from users’ wallets and decentralized applications . The rising interest among large and small investors in BTC and other digital assets has also increased its value in recent months. The increasing number of use cases for cryptocurrencies has made this asset class more attractive to invest in. As Bitcoin remains the leader of the pack, almost all investors vie to hold at least some portion of their portfolio. However, unlike monetary policy in countries with fiat currencies, which are subject to change in line with political and economic developments, the Bitcoin ecosystem is a fully decentralised monetary system.
The second most valuable cryptocurrency, Ether, also experienced a similar downward trend in value. Until just before the decision, the solution known as Segwit2x, which would double the size of bitcoin blocks to 2 megabytes, seemed to have universal support. The crypto-friendly financial institution has felt the brunt of rising interest rates and FTX’s collapse. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is an internationally recognized set of security requirements related to gathering and storing card credentials.
Time to Upgrade!
Following the first delivery date in January 2018, the CME requested extensive detailed trading information but several of the exchanges refused to provide it and later provided only limited data. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission then subpoenaed the data from the exchanges. Finance analytics believe that there are a few main drivers that affect BTC and most altcoins. The strongest one is probably the global adoption and popularity. Because the more people know about the asset, the more they want to buy it.
- The crypto you bought will appear on your account immediately.
- In March 2022, Ukraine has passed a law that creates a legal framework for the cryptocurrency industry in the country, including judicial protection of the right to own virtual assets.
- Higher prices indicate stronger demand in the U.S. versus the rest of the world.
Each of the eight members represented a cryptocurrency, including bitcoin, Ethereum and Cardano. The 2014 documentary The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin portrays the diversity of motives behind the use of bitcoin by interviewing people who use it. The 2016 documentary Banking on Bitcoin is an introduction to the beginnings of bitcoin and the ideas behind cryptocurrency today. Bitcoin Core includes a scripting language inspired by Forth that can define transactions and specify parameters. ScriptPubKey is used to “lock” transactions based on a set of future conditions.
Many online stores accept BNB Bitcoin , Ether , Litecoin as payment methods. So you can buy Ethereum on the crypto exchange, for instance, and then use it to pay for goods and services. They just used a concept and a protocol created back in 1991, add some improvements, and presented the model of the decentralized financial system and the first cryptocurrency. Given that Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to surface in the market, the other digital currencies that emerged are referred to as altcoins.
How Is Bitcoin (BTC) Different From Bitcoin Cash (BCH)?
ScriptSig is used to meet these conditions or “unlock” a transaction. Reducing Bitcoin’s environmental effects is difficult; possible remedies include making bitcoin only where or when there is excess clean electricity. Some policymakers have called for further restrictions or bans on bitcoin mining.
Several https://www.beaxy.com/ outlets have asserted that the popularity of bitcoins hinges on the ability to use them to purchase illegal goods. Nobel-prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says that bitcoin’s anonymity encourages money laundering and other crimes. The European Banking Authority issued a warning in 2013 focusing on the lack of regulation of bitcoin, the chance that exchanges would be hacked, the volatility of bitcoin’s price, and general fraud. FINRA and the North American Securities Administrators Association have both issued investor alerts about bitcoin. In 2017 and 2018, bitcoin’s acceptance among major online retailers included only three of the top 500 U.S. online merchants, down from five in 2016.
Alternative clients exist, such as bitcoin priec XT, Bitcoin Unlimited, and Parity Bitcoin. Bitcoin uses public-key cryptography, in which two cryptographic keys, one public and one private, are generated. As new blocks are being generated continuously, the difficulty of modifying an old block increases as time passes and the number of subsequent blocks increases. Individual blocks, public addresses, and transactions within blocks can be examined using a blockchain explorer. Transactions of the form payer X sends Y bitcoins to payee Z are broadcast to this network using readily available software applications.
For example, Bitcoin’s value generally responds to government announcements of stricter or looser regulations on cryptocurrency trading. And Nakamoto did not invent the cryptography or networked blockchain technology data structure that supports Bitcoin. But he was the one who put them together and launched a revolution that would rock individuals and countries alike, challenging their understanding of money itself. Bitcoin mining is the process where miners contribute the processing power of their hardware rigs to solve cryptographic puzzles from each transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain.
The total dollar value of all transactions for this asset over the past 24 hours. A hawkish Fed, the demise of crypto-friendly Silvergate Bank, and a possible government sale of Silk Road-related bitcoin have given investors ample reason to sell. Blockstream is a for-profit tech company that develops new infrastructure on the Bitcoin network, including Lightning Network and sidechains. There were also a range of other developers including Pieter Wuille and Peter Todd who contributed to the development of Bitcoin Core – the first client on the Bitcoin network.
Ukraine is accepting donations in cryptocurrency, including bitcoin, to fund the resistance against the Russian invasion. According to the officials, 40% of the Ukraine’s military suppliers are willing to accept cryptocurrencies without converting them into euros or dollars. In March 2022, Ukraine has passed a law that creates a legal framework for the cryptocurrency industry in the country, including judicial protection of the right to own virtual assets.
BTC Price Analysis
Bitcoin’s price is as variable and unpredictable as ETH gas fees. The number of Bitcoin assets minted per block to reward miners will continue to halve roughly every four years until 21 million BTC coins have been minted. Advanced tools like dollar cost averaging and derivatives trading are readily available. Thousands of cryptocurrencies compete for your attention and your euros.
The cryptocurrency world has proved to be far more volatile than the stock market, often experiencing swings of 10% or more in a single day – sometimes much more. Compared to Bitcoin, stock prices change minimally and slowly. In 2010, Satoshi Nakamoto turned over the Bitcoin network alert key, the open-source code, and ownership of the code repository to a collaborator named Gaven Andresen. The Bitcoin blockchain ledger shows that none of that BTC has been spent or transferred to a fiat bank account. It’s billions of euros sitting idle in the Bitcoin inventor’s wallet. Bitcoin halving occurs approximately every four years, where the rewards given to Bitcoin miners for mining blocks are cut in half.
On 5 2013, the People’s Bank of China prohibited Chinese financial institutions from using bitcoin. After the announcement, the value of bitcoin dropped, and Baidu no longer accepted bitcoins for certain services. Buying real-world goods with any virtual currency had been illegal in China since at least 2009. A paper wallet with the address visible for adding or checking stored funds. The part of the page containing the private key is folded over and sealed.
- However, the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance has affected the crypto market, indicating that the next interest rate hike will exceed market consensus, causing uncertainty among traders and investors.
- The Bitcoin value compared to the prices of other fiat and crypto currencies varies from moment to moment, as it is dictated by the transactions of buyers and sellers on exchanges.
- This was, of course, when the Bitcoin price was significantly lower than current levels.
- In our modern life, this new technology finds a lot of use cases outside the digital industry.
- A few months later, Bitcoins were trading for more than 10 euros each.
This limited the maximum network capacity to about three transactions per second. Since then, network capacity has been improved incrementally both through block size increases and improved wallet behavior. A network alert system was included by Satoshi Nakamoto as a way of informing users of important news regarding bitcoin. It had become obsolete as news on bitcoin is now widely disseminated.
In fact, a significant portion of all Bitcoins are held in the treasuries of public and private companies and ETF-like trusts. Technical analysis involves looking at a BTC chart to make sense of previous price movements. With Bitcoin, as with many other tradable assets, large price swings are often accompanied by spikes in trading volume, as a large number of users buy or sell coins on exchanges. The live price of Bitcoin is $ 19,939.51 per (BTC / USD) today with a current market cap of $ 385.10B USD. The CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index is the world’s leading reference for the price of bitcoin, used by the largest institutions active in crypto assets.
When you look at the right part of the graph, you can see the price indexes. Put the cursor on the latest candle and to find the current BTC in USD exchange rate. This is an approximate price at which you can buy Bitcoins for now. However, keep in mind this value can change dramatically even the next minute. A blockchain is a digital ledger recording cryptocurrency transactions, maintaining records referred to as ‘blocks’ in a linear, chronological order. The use and trade of Bitcoin is legal in the majority of countries in the world, however, because it is a deregulated marketplace, governments are concerned about its potential threat as a tool for money laundering.
If you’ve wondered about questions like these, you have come to the right place. We’ve compiled all the Bitcoin news, everything you need to get a better understanding of the intricacies of BTC’s price and the factors that influence it. Bitcoin wallets are digital programs or physical devices that store your public key, your private key, and your passcode.
We use the enhanced security measures to protect your funds and keep them on cold wallets, away from possible online hacks. However, it doesn’t mean that you can not withdraw your digital funds when you need them. To cover the customers’ transactions, CEX.IO keeps the company’s funds on hot wallets. If you look at the Trade page on the CEX.IO website, you can see the chart representing the fluctuations of BTC market value. There are different pillows called ‘candlesticks’ that show the uptrend and downtrend .
What Is the Current Price of Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is available for immediate purchase at Kriptomat. The current price is 20585.40 EUR.
In addition to random events driven Bitcoin price change, macroeconomic indicators we analyzed still effect on Bitcoin price to some degree. In January 2015, as the price of gasoline fell, the CPI for the first time fell to a negative value in recent five years. As we can see in Fig.4, Bitcoin price present the same curve during this period. Although we cannot attribute the fell of CPI to the fell of Bitcoin price, we can still see clearly that there is some connection in between. From former study we tested out that the long run causality exists from CPI, DJIA, FFR, GP and USDI to BTC, the short run causality exists from CPI, GP and USID to BTC.


text:
Cape Coral passes ordinance to crack down on gas skimmers
For so many drivers, heading to the pump also means watching out for crooks trying to steal your money.
“I don’t think we can ever be safe enough. With the way things are going nowadays and the technology today,” said Cape Coral resident Tony Milano.
“I used it (my card) at a 7-11 and the next thing I know I start getting these charges all up and down the east coast,” added Cape Coral resident Charles Quinn.
Quinn says he lost about $100 thanks to a credit card skimmer.
“You have to call the credit card company, and you have to cancel the card, and then you have to watch everything and make sure over the next 30 days that you get credited back for everything that you get charged. And it took several months,” he said.
Cape Coral Police hope a new ordinance will help crack down on those skimmers, requiring gas stations to put a visible locking device on each pump or face a steep fine.
“I’m worried about every place,” said Cape Coral resident Michelle Peterson. “You go to a restaurant, you don’t want to give anyone your credit card any more, you don’t want anyone to have their hands on it.”
Naples Police say they promote crime prevention to help keep gas skimming devices from appearing in the city.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office says they’re also looking into an anti-gas skimmer ordinance, saying, “Our Economic Crimes Sergeant has been waiting to review the proposal from Cape Coral with the intention of drafting something similar for our command staff’s review.”
The idea behind the Cape’s proposed ordinance is something consumers could be seeing across Southwest Florida.
“They can just take advantage of anybody anytime. So yeah definitely the safer the better I think,” Milano said.
It wouldn’t be an immediate change, however. It would go into effect in May.


text:
Posted by truthpills on 2013/04/15
by The Cerebral Aesthetic Vagabond
April 13, 2013
“They” must be getting desperate to resort to such flagrant manipulation of the markets, the way they did yesterday.
Just Another Day At The G-S Corral
For years gold and silver have been routinely pummeled to protect the U.S. Dollar’s image, but never more so than Friday, April 12, when, according to one expert, 500 tons of gold were sold in the futures market in a single day. To put that in perspective, just a few years ago the major governments of the world were bound by agreement to limit their collective gold sales to 500 tons per year! So selling 500 tons in a single day is a truly staggering quantity, but consistent with the observed price action. Needless to say, a sale of that magnitude can have no legitimate trading purpose; the objective of such a massive sale was clearly to smash the price and frighten away precious metals buyers.
One has to wonder just who are the buyers of these futures contracts. After all, anyone who’s seriously looking to purchase physical metal is not going to purchase it using these contracts. Such contracts might be useful in other commodity markets that are still legitimate, such as that for corn, but the futures market for precious metals has evolved into an instrument that exists solely for the purpose of manipulating precious metals prices. Anyone in the market for hundreds of tons of physical metal is probably shrewd enough to be aware of the corrupt nature the futures market. Moreover, I seriously doubt that the sellers of these futures contracts could deliver the metal when the contracts expire. Finally, why would someone purchase 500 tons of gold in the futures market, knowing that a sale of that magnitude would crash the price? Why would anyone purchase an asset that they could anticipate was going to decline in price?
Read the full article
This entry was posted on 2013/04/15 at 1:28 am and is filed under Corruption, Economy, Economy - Finance, fascism, Finance, Government Programs, New World Order, politics. Tagged: naked shorting, precious metal manipulation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


text:
Show provides friendly flower rivalry
Who can grow the tallest delphinium, the lushest azaleas and the most exotic yucca leads to definite competition at the annual flower and garden show.
But the rivalry is so friendly, competitors tend to pass on their best tips, warnings and even flower seed to each other.
Take Wendy Bowman and Mary Thorne.
Both women helped organize Sunday’s 165th Flower and Garden Show at Tranquility Hall and both are avid members of the Brantford Garden Club.
“Mary’s a walking encyclopedia of gardening,” says Bowman of her friend.
When Bowman’s sister gave her some delphinium seed from New Zealand, she shared it with Thorne and both women entered the resulting blooms to the contest.
Thorne’s not only won her category but was named Best in Show by the judges.
“It’s fine,” said Bowman. “I was Best in Show last year.”
The two gardeners were delighted that the hall was filled with beautiful flowers and fat vegetables at all.
A heavy rain early in the week mashed down many blooms and a spring filled with earwigs and slugs made things even worse.
“We were impressed we had all of this come in,” said Thorne, waving to the entries.
Gardeners of all sorts, from beginners with questions to veterans looking for inspiration turned out to the event which had a Canada 150 theme for design elements.
The organizers said there is a heightened interest in waterwise gardening and visitors examined the outdoor gardens at the hall carefully where various sections represent different types of gardens that are maintained with little to no water.
Thorne said another prominent interest this year is in succulents such as sedum and hen and chicks which are good ground cover but can be arranged in dish gardens appropriate for apartment dwellers.
“Some don’t need water at all and a person can go away for a couple of weeks and know everything’s not going to die on them,” said Bowman.
The show featured gardening workshops, raffles and vendors selling garden-related items and plants.


text:
McDonald’s hurt by Israel-related boycott – CEO
McDonald’s franchises in the Middle East have experienced a “meaningful business impact” in 2023 from boycotts associated with the Gaza conflict, the fast-food giant’s Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski has said.
In a LinkedIn post on Thursday, Kempczinski lauded the company’s accomplishment over the past year, but admitted that “several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact” due to the Gaza war and the “associated misinformation.”
“This is disheartening and ill-founded,” he added. “In every country where we operate, including in Muslim countries, McDonald’s is proudly represented by local owner operators who work tirelessly to serve and support their communities while employing thousands of their fellow citizens.”
The hearts of everyone at McDonald’s are with “the communities and families impacted by the war in the Middle East,” Kempczinski insisted. “We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone.”
While Kempczinski did not give any estimates of the losses from the boycott, their full extent may be revealed later this month, when McDonald’s is scheduled to issue an earnings report.
McDonald’s found itself in the middle of the Gaza conflict in mid-October, after the company’s franchisee in Israel boasted on social media about giving free means to Israeli soldiers and police.
This triggered franchises in Oman, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates to respond by donating to Palestinian causes – and activists across the Muslim world to call for boycotts of the brand. Other Western corporations – Starbucks, Coca-Cola, IBM, Nestle and KFC, to name a few – have faced similar backlash.
GAR, the McDonald’s franchisee in Malaysia, has responded by suing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement last month for “false and defamatory statements” about the chain. The company has asked for damages in the amount of 6 million ringgit ($1.31 million) to compensate for revenue and job losses.
A series of raids by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7 resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,200 Israelis. West Jerusalem responded by declaring war on the group and proceeding to bomb and invade Gaza. Israeli attacks have since caused over 22,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities.


text:
Town Centre Market boosts trade
Newcastle events markets bring shoppers into town
Newcastle-under-Lyme’s outdoor market has had a major resurgence in popularity in the last couple of years, proving to be one of the major attractions for town centre shoppers, a new report reveals.
The report, set to be presented to Cabinet next week, will show that he market’s offer is central to the town’s appeal and outline how the market’s potential can be fully developed in future.
Performance indicators in the report show that although the traditional general market still brings in discerning shoppers for the more well-known traders it is the success of the event markets over the last twelve months that have led to an increase in its popularity and, as a result, footfall for the rest of the town centre.
Figures show that the average time people spent around the market at the busiest events was 174 minutes, or just over two-and-a-half hours, with shopping routes then spreading across the town centre.
Cabinet member for finance, town centres and growth, Stephen Sweeney, said: “The market has had an unbelievable couple of years, despite the pandemic and the two lockdowns we have all experienced. It is clear that people from the borough and beyond have really appreciated the accessibility and diversity of the outdoor market events and they have spoken with their feet by coming in to town.
“We work closely with our town centre partners to make Newcastle a safe, welcoming place where people can take their time to look around, bring their families, meet their friends, do some shopping and relax. The event markets we have seen be so well-received by people of all ages have been superb and I can’t wait to see the market calendar grow even more in 2022.”
The Leader of the Council, Simon Tagg, added: “This resurgence as a major attraction for the town has been so good to see and there’s more to come. Newcastle’s residents have flocked to the market in huge numbers and made it clear that they like the way things are going. So, we are looking at new ideas, current trends and the things people love and value, and we will continue to breathe new life into a market that has been at the heart of the town for hundreds of years.”
The events calendar has been outstanding. The Artisan Market has just completed a full-year of events, attracting large numbers of shoppers and achieving 100% take-up from traders. The summer and winter Vegan Festivals, both held on Sundays, were also incredibly busy and attracted the highest footfall.
The Record Fair attracts traders from across the North as well as the West Midlands and the ‘Greyhound Gap’ dog-friendly market saw the removal of some stalls at the lower end of the market to create a show ring.
The Antique Market remains one of the major draws for many people and boasts a high percentage of take-up for market traders and a very loyal twice weekly audience.
New traders are welcomed as well as those who have been a mainstay of the market across the years.
The Young Traders platform has been a springboard into business opportunity for entrepreneurs and young artists aged between 16 and 30 years old. As part of their dedicated market they have competed for the Young Traders Awards with several young people from Newcastle making it to the national competition finals.
In 2022, the Cabinet report states, ffuture aspirations for the market will continue to diversify. New event markets for the town centre could include
- a Tri-service Armed Forces Day,
- a university-run ‘Evening Student Market’,
- an automotive memorabilia and classic vehicle market,
- participation in the HG Wells Festivals and
- a Pride event.
In addition to the increase in events markets and potential new attractions, improvements to the infrastructure of the historic market have included new entertainment and audience space by the Market Cross and the addition of electrical power and lighting to all fixed stalls.
The Council has secured also monies through the Future High Street Fund which will enhance the public performance and leisure activity space as part of the significant redevelopment of the town centre. This will include more connected public areas around the town to allow a more relaxed and enjoyable experience for all.
Cabinet will review the report on Wednesday 12 January, 2022.
The full Cabinet agenda and all reports will be published online before the meeting here: https://tinyurl.com/2p9f3xn3


text:
Imagine a Pebble without the need for a proprietary charging connector. Or how about a Galaxy Gear that doesn't lose connection to your phone every time you walk away for a quick errand? Both are evolutionary steps on the way to a truly desirable smartwatch and this week sees a pair of new announcements that will bring them closer to reality.
First up is the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which is announcing version 4.1 of its wireless communication standard. With 4.1, Bluetooth devices will be able to "remember" a lost connection for longer, allowing them to automatically re-establish a connection when they're within range of one another. There's also the addition of bulk data transfers, which will come in especially handy when collecting information away from your main device — such as on a run — allowing you to dump it all off at once at the end.
The future's bright, the future's Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.1 devices will be able to act as both a peripheral and a hub, with the cited example being a smartwatch gathering information from Bluetooth Smart sensors during exercise, performing the hub role, and then passing it on to a smartphone in its capacity as a peripheral. There's also improvement to the way Bluetooth and LTE radios coexist on the same device, with interference between the two being minimized. The best news about Bluetooth 4.1 is that it's an update that can be rolled out over the air to existing Bluetooth chips, meaning you won't require a brand new device to get the benefit.
Broadcom adds to the intriguing new possibilities for wearables with its newly introduced BCM20736 system-on-chip. It's a single slice of silicon that combines Bluetooth, an ARM processor, and wireless charging into one efficient whole. Its advantages are greater efficiency in terms of both power and space, plus one less excuse for smartwatch makers not offering wireless charging on their next device.


text:
I am amazed to see that the most expensive Clinton townhouse conversion sold for only $4,350,000. This double wide house, in need of renovation, at 453-55 West 56 th Street sold for $588/SF. Meanwhile, on a price per square foot basis, the neighborhood record of recent is held by a renovated 20’ wide single family at 442 West 44 th Street. It sold back in August of last year for $992/SF.
There are plenty of other examples of low price points in the area. Such bargains include 431 West 44 th Street, which sold late last year for only $1,900,000 or $528/SF. Other 20’ wides include 445 West 45 th Street and 457 West 47 th Street which respectively sold for $2,500,000 and $2,670,000. Unfinished townhouses in the area have sold for an low average of $591/SF.
According to Massey Knakal’s 3Q11 Property Sales Report, the average price for a Manhattan 1-4 family was almost triple this average at $1,549/SF. Boosting this average are several finished Greenwich Village townhouses which have sold at over $3,000/SF.
Visit The Full Nelson at NYInc for the rest of the article.
Agents: James Nelson


text:
The success of the Middlesbrough Town Centre company has been celebrated at a special event.
And while the company is now being wound up, pledges have been given that its key areas of work will continue to ensure the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.
At the event in Cineworld, the chairman for the past six years, Father Glyn Holland, said that the company's successes were summed up in two figures - £240m inward investment and the creation of more than 3,000 full and part-time jobs.
The company was set up in 2000 to harness public and private sector cash to transform the centre over seven years.
Father Holland said: "I am very proud to have been part of the company for the past seven years. We have not been afraid to take a lead on controver- sial and sometimes far-reaching issues.
"Decisions have been taken for the benefit of the town - decisions which have greatly enhanced the economic and social well-being of the town and its physical appearance.
"None of that would have been achieved without forward-thinking strategies and a determination to grasp the nettle and move forward."
Father Holland said although the town centre company was closing down the process it had begun and the mechanisms it had established had to be included in the new set-up to replace the town centre company.
Les Southerton, the town centre company's chief executive, said its mission over the past seven years had been to make the town centre look and feel like a city.
He selected just three of the many projects the company had been involved in for particular mention:
* The conversion of the former Uptons store to Psyche
* The demolition of Zetland House at the railway station had improved a key gateway to the town
* The shopmobility scheme which was regularly used by 2,700 people


text:
The amount of cargo processed at South Korea’s seaports gained 3.8 percent last month from a year earlier fueled by more cargo passing through the country, the government said on Monday.
The volume of cargo handled at the country’s seaports reached 111.82 million tons in January, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. The figure marks the largest cargo volume handled by the country’s ports in January.
“The increase was helped by more transshipment cargo handled at local ports and a rise in trade for such goods as petroleum products and textiles,” the ministry said.
Transshipment cargo, which refers to products that go through local ports while en route to a final destination, soared 21.3 percent on-year to 691,000 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs).
The volume of textile and petroleum products handled at the ports gained 9.6 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively, although the volume for coal, steel products and autos declined last month compared to the year before.


text:
The evolution of e-commerce, with the need to meet customer demands for ever-faster delivery, requires a whole new approach to local fulfillment, says Jake Heldenberg, senior sales consultant with Vanderlande.
Peak-Ryzex, Inc., a provider of digital supply chain and mobile workforce solutions, has announced a partnership with ShipTrack, a cloud-based logistics management platform for business use cases in last mile, postal parcel delivery, regulated goods, pharmacy, mailroom, agents, contractors and partners.
Logistics, shipping rates and the need to assess full landed cost are among the challenges that shippers face in the modern-day world of e-commerce, says Hagar Valiano Rips, CEO and co-founder of Ladingo.
E-commerce buyers are demanding ever-faster delivery of orders, even though the economics of such service are anything but profitable for providers. John Haber, founder and CEO of Spend Management Experts, describes the current landscape of competitors in that sector.
The latest news, analysis, services and systems regarding last-mile delivery and its impact within global supply chains. Today’s companies are transporting and delivering perishables and manufactured goods in a more timely and efficient manner than ever before thanks, in part, to the boom in e-commerce. New services and technologies for last-mile delivery are transforming the way companies do business — and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As these services continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies are using last-mile delivery solutions to power their supply chains.
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter!
Timely, incisive articles delivered directly to your inbox.


text:
Yahoo has been a major player in the search engine market almost since the beginning. Their share of the market has waned a lot in recent years, but they still kept a respectable portion (20%) out of Google's hands. Now Microsoft's and Yahoo have partnered up and Bing will be handling all of Yahoo's search needs. This deal will boost Yahoo's revenue substantially and give Bing the market share it needs to take the fight to Google's doorstep.
This 10 year agreement means a lot of money for Yahoo. They're estimated to rake in a mind-blowing 500 million dollars annually once the partnership is fully implemented. That's going to take about two years, a worthwhile wait for a deal this lucrative. Yahoo's yearly capital expenditure savings are expected to top 200 million and, all told, they should gain an 275 million in annual operating cashflow as a result of this arrangement.
This deal means big things for Microsoft's AdCenter self-service advertising platform, which will now handle self-serve advertising for both companies. Despite that, Yahoo definitely got the better end of the deal financially. They'll manage the worldwide relationship sales force for both corporations, and Microsoft has also agreed to pay them an acquisition fee equal to 88% of the search revenue generated by Yahoo sites over the first five years of the arrangement.
Don't Miss: Find a NES Classic in stock online
With this announcement, Microsoft's Bing is now officially a major competitor in the search engine arena. Theoretically, with Bing's market share added to Yahoo's, they now control nearly 30% of the market, leaving most of the remaining 70% to Google. We won't really have an idea of how large a chunk of the market Bing controls now until a month or two down the line, when things calm down and we get some accurate statistics.
What Microsoft needs to do now is push Bing as hard as they can over the next two months or so. If they can't show that they're stealing users from Google, or at least holding on to Yahoo users, they'll be in for a lot of trouble. Considering the losses Microsoft has already sustained this quarter, a disastrous showing in the face of such a formidable union could end up crippling the software giant for the foreseeable future.


text:
Let’s face it, Instagram is becoming a part of daily life for many people across the world. The number of consumer usage is vastly growing, and it definitely won’t stop anytime soon. Instagram is constantly creating new ways for consumers and businesses to share content. Thus, meaning more ways to use the app and present daily life across a variety of platforms.
In recent news, the public has been questioning the obsession consumers are having over the app and the way life is represented online. Posting is endless, from where a consumer’s recent lunch date was, to a recent vacation. The expectation for Instagram is to represent daily life flawlessly, and excitably. Cara McGoogan from The Telegraph stated, “we should not let the quest for the perfect Instagram shot dictate every aspect of our lives”. McGoogan’s statement is certainly impactful and relevant regarding the obsession some consumers have over the application. Social influencers that have made a solid career through posting on Instagram are a prime example. There have been members of the public who have attempted such a lifestyle, and ended up in an extreme amount of debt. All for the cost of a “perfect Instagram shot”.
In March 2018, the Independent wrote an article on Lissette Calveiro, who uprooted from Miami to New York and aspired to live the “Sex and the City dream”. Whilst living in New York, she was interning which covered little costs, which meant she had to spend savings and take on a part-time job. Calveiro told the New York Post “I was shopping… for clothes to take ‘the perfect ‘gram”. As a result of this, Calveiro racked up $10,000 (£7,256) of debt. This expectation of “the perfect ‘gram” post, resulted in a magnitude of debt. Calveiro admitted to “…a lot of the travel i was doing in 2016 was strictly for Instagram”. The commitment for one single app is outstanding, having the ability to spend an extortionate amount purely for the representation of daily life.
Calveiro is a prime example of the lengths consumers will go to for the perfect Instagram feed. Going back to McGoogan’s article, she quoted, “art should not imitate life – especially if its an inedible seven-stack burger”. Art is an element to be admired or appreciated, rather than something to be attained. Calverio drastically slowed down her spending after realising the dramatic plummet of finances, and managed to pay off her debt by committing to cutbacks. However, this may not be the case for other consumers who are still striving for the perfect portrayed life. Author Tanya Goodin stated, “… this is just another example of how the relentless pressure [to] have a perfect ‘Instagrammable’ life can get seriously out of hand and cause real problems in real life”.
Instagram is a great platform, but should definitely be used with caution. The app can portray the perfect, yet occasionally unattainable, lifestyles of others. On occasion, it reflects an unhealthy image of how life should be, but consumers do not need to live up to this. We aren’t saying to boycott Instagram, but to use it with caution. All social media should be used to a certain extent, and certainly not to the level of racking up excessive debt just to have an aesthetically pleasing feed.


text:
You are here
CapitaLand, UnionPay to launch cashless payment in China
CAPITALAND has struck an alliance with China UnionPay to enable cashless payment in China through the former's cardless rewards programme, CapitaStar, at the IE Singapore - CapitaLand Tech & Innovation Summit in Beijing on Friday.
CapitaLand also sealed technology collaborations with leading Chinese players, which include launching a China-focused venture fund - C31 Ventures China - with high-tech conglomerate Han Hai Holdings, and rolling out facial recognition technology at CapitaLand offices and malls in China and Singapore with tech startup Megvii.
The group also entered into a tripartite partnership with IE Singapore and Chinese co-working space operator UrWork to set up innovation centres in China to incubate Singapore startups.
The summit was officiated by Minister of Finance, Heng Swee Keat, and aims to accelerate cross-border innovation and knowledge-sharing between Singapore and China. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of National Development; and representatives from China's Ministry of Science and Technology were also present.
Lim Ming Yan, president and group CEO of CapitaLand noted that the alliance will enhance its efforts to provide offline and online media for augmenting its customers' live, work and play experiences. CapitaStar's four million members in China will benefit from the integration of China UnionPay's debit and credit card facilities with the CapitaStar app.
"This paves the way for us to simplify and digitise the way customers transact with us, not just for our customers in China, but also those in Singapore and beyond," he said.
Lucas Loh, CapitaLand China's CEO, said: "We are pleased to forge many valuable partnerships today. This will boost our efforts to leverage technology to enhance our real estate portfolio."
He added: "From our strategic alliance with China UnionPay to integrate cashless payment with CapitaStar, to the setting up of our C31 Ventures fund in China - these are steps towards deepening CapitaLand's capabilities by tapping into the latest emerging technologies and trends, to create better experiences for our customers."


text:
During the company’s Build 2021 digital event, CEO Satya Nadella revealed that although Microsoft can’t share much about the upcoming Windows version just yet, he has been personally testing the operating system, and will be sharing more information very soon.
“Soon we will share one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade to unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators,” said Nadella during his keynote. “I’ve been self-hosting it over the past several months, and I’m incredibly excited about the next generation of Windows. Our promise to you is this: we will create more opportunity for every Windows developer today and welcome every creator who is looking for the most innovative, new, open platform to build and distribute and monetize applications. We look forward to sharing more very soon.”
As expected, details remain scarce at this point, but reports suggest that the new operating system will come with a completely revamped UI, as well as a newly-designed Microsoft Store that the tech giant has been working on, which could change the way app developers monetize their product.
In other related news, Valve is reportedly developing a handheld PC that’ll run Steam games.


text:
Forbes has named American music mogul, Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay–Z, as the richest musician in the world.
The rapper is now the first rapper to become a billionaire.
“It’s clear that Jay-Z has accumulated a fortune that conservatively totals $1 billion, making him one of only a handful of entertainers to become a billionaire—and the first hip-hop artist to do so,” Forbes said.
Forbes’ breakdown indicated that the rapper’s chief source of wealth is his $300-a-bottle Armand de Brignac champagne brand (at $310 million), but also boasts of investments at well over $200 million (including a large stake in Uber).
Forbes said the reason Jay-Z’s wealth went all up on the table is his new business interest in alcohol.
His streaming service, Tidal allegedly supplies about $100 million of his net worth, just behind his cognac D’Ussé.
Jay-Z recently gave a special performance to celebrate the re-opening of the celebrated NYC venue Webster Hall.
He and wife Beyoncé were recipients of the Vanguard Prize at the GLAAD Awards in March.
Jay-Z was born in December 4, 1969, he is an American rapper, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and record executive. Considered among the best rappers of all time, he is regarded as one of the world’s most significant cultural icons and has been a global figure in popular culture for over two decades.
Born and raised in New York City, Jay-Z first began his musical career after founding the record label Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995, and subsequently released his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt in 1996. The album was released to widespread critical success, and solidified his standing in the music industry. He has gone onto release twelve additional albums, which have all attained generally positive critical reception and universal commercial success, with The Blueprint (2001) and The Black Album (2003) albums later being heralded as modern musical classics. He has also released the full-length collaborative albums Watch the Throne (2011) and Everything Is Love (2018) with Kanye West and wife Beyoncé, respectively.
Outside of his musical career, Jay-Z has also attained significant success and media attention for his career as a businessman. In 1999, he founded the clothing retailer Rocawear, and in 2003, he founded the luxury sports bar chain 40/40 Club.
Both businesses have grown to become multi-million dollar corporations, and allowed Jay-Z to fund the start-up for the entertainment company Roc Nation, which was founded in 2008. In 2015, he acquired the tech company Aspiro, and took charge of their media streaming service Tidal, which has since become the world’s third-largest online streaming company. His marriage to musician Beyoncé has also been a source of substantial media attention.
Jay-Z is among the most critically acclaimed musicians and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. He has won a total of 22 Grammy Awards, the most by a rapper, and holds the record for the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200, with 13.He has been ranked by Billboard and fellow music publication Rolling Stone as one of the 100 greatest artists of all time. In 2017, he became the first rapper to be honored into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2018, received the commemorative “Salute to Industry Icons” award at the 60th Grammy Awards.


text:
Man Arrested for Selling Pirated Anime DVDs
A restaurant worker (34) was arrested on charge of possessing (on HDD) and selling (through his website) pirated anime DVDs. According to the story, ever since September 2005, the man has managed to sell pirated DVDs to over 300 people, and has made over 4,000,000 yen.
On 3/3/2006, the ACCS (Association of Copyright for Computer Software) issued a warning to the man. Soon afterwards the man closed his website. Later that month a new website "FUN" was opened, and the man continued to contact his customers through regular mail.
ACCS has confirmed that between 12/23/2005 to 3/30/2006, the man sold Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack and 14 other series to another person through his website, making a total of 9,500 yen (shipping fee included).
According to report, in September 2005 the man began selling pirated DVDs on Yahoo! Auctions, and introduced the customers to his own "DVD Club". Usually one DVD sold for 500 yen, and shipping ranges from 500 - 1000 yen, but if one buys over 10 DVDs, there will be a 500 yen discount.


text:
When it comes to staying motivated with their fitness regimen, some celebs, such as Khloe Kardashian, have figured out an easy and increasingly popular method.
Trainer Jorge Cruise, author of several diet books, including the new vegan diet and fitness program book Tiny and Full, recently gave E! News some tips to help people get—and maintain—a fab figure. One of them is to post workout selfies. Such pics, which are growing in popularity, have been posted by Kardashian, Chris Pratt and many other famous and not famous people. While they have often been dubbed vanity photos, they actually have a positive effect on a person's fitness.
"You can use your social media—you can use your Instagram—to stay motivated," Cruise said.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang is leaving the struggling Internet company, as it tries to revive its revenue growth and win over disgruntled shareholders under a new leader.
DETROIT (AP) - That clunker in America's driveway has reached a record old age, but there are signs that people may be growing confident enough in the economy to get a whiff of that fresh new car scent very soon.
FREEPORT, Maine (AP) - Back in the days before retailers like Gap, J. Crew or American Eagle Outfitters, there were guys like L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch.
Motorized unicycles to video games your eyes can control
Wikipedia may black out its website Wednesday to protest anti-piracy legislation under consideration in Congress.
WELLINGTON, Ohio (AP) - If you want great milk, you need happy and healthy cows.
I write a column similar to this one every January. But I don't mind plagiarizing myself because it contains a very important message for people planning to retire in 2012.
BEIJING (AP) - Raw eggs splattered and streaked the gleaming windows of Beijing's Apple store Friday, hurled by angry and frustrated shoppers when the launch of the iPhone 4S was canceled due to fears over the size of the crowd.
NEW YORK (AP) - Out of a relatively balmy winter have sprung some economic surprises. People have more cash in their pockets because they aren't turning up the thermostat. Airlines don't have to de-ice planes or battle blizzards. And shoppers are finding great deals on coats and boots.
NEW YORK (AP) - For do-most-of-it-yourself brides, wedding planning means lists, lists and more lists, with some spreadsheets thrown in for good measure. There are also the long, endlessly pored-over documents of vows, readings, even toasts. Did I mention lists?
Control a PC with body motions
NEW YORK (AP) - The economy may be healing, but banks are suffering from a housing hangover.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Sure, today's phones can deliver the sound of a heartbeat. But how would you like to actually feel the throbbing?
WASHINGTON (AP) - America's retailers enjoyed a record 2011 and their first $400 billion sales months ever. But the final month of the year was a dud.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is all about the latest smartphones, tablet computers and other devices. But what about the old gadgets? Don't they get any love?
NEW YORK (AP) - With the recent news that a Russian hacker ring has amassed some 1.2 billion username and password combinations, it's a good time to review ways to protect yourself online.
NEW YORK (AP) - The collapse of Sprint's push to buy T-Mobile US could mean fresh options in wireless plans and lower prices for U.S. consumers. But in the long run, tougher competition on prices could lead to slower service and slower expansion of coverage.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Internet radio leader Pandora has come to its first-ever direct licensing deal with artists, a wide-ranging agreement with independent label group Merlin that both said would mean higher payments to artists and more play for them on Pandora stations.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Economists have long argued that a rising wealth gap has complicated the U.S. rebound from the Great Recession.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Aiming to sidestep a logjam in Congress, the Obama administration is looking for steps it could take on its own to prevent American companies from reincorporating overseas to shirk U.S. taxes, officials said Tuesday.
MIAMI (AP) - To motivate a classroom packed with 87 aspiring real estate agents, instructor Keith Grandy started off his one-week, intensive course with the promise of big money: With hard work, fresh licensees in the Miami metro area could make $100,000 a year if they complete at least two transactions per month, according to current property prices and commissions.
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) - Office Depot's second-quarter loss widened as the office supply retailer dealt with increased expenses.
NEW YORK - Passcodes are outdated.
NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart, in its latest bid to compete with nemesis Amazon.com, is rebuilding its website to further personalize the online shopping experience of each customer.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - A case pitting a casino against gamblers who won $1.5 million in a game with unshuffled card decks may be heading toward trial.


text:
PESQUERÍA, Mexico—The new governor of a northern Mexican state is balking at the tax breaks, land grants and other public perks that have underwritten the country’s automotive boom of recent years.
Nuevo León Gov. Jaime Rodríguez, whose nickname El Bronco plays on his headstrong style, and his aides are refusing to honor a large portion of the incentives promised by the previous state government to woo a $2.5 billion new assembly plant by South Korea’s Kia Motors.
Coming Soon! 5 Days of Deals
Up to 60% off - Target Promo Code
- The Home Depot:
$50 discount sitewide - Home Depot Coupon
Macy's coupon - Sign up to get 25% off next order
Today's JCPenney coupon code - 30% off entire purchase
NordVPN coupon: Up to 39% off 1-year subscription


text:
Hogwarts Legacy launches last month for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with its PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions having been pushed back prior to its release– though as it turns out, those waiting to play the open world action RPG on last-gen consoles are going to have to wait a little longer.
Previously set to launch on April 4, the game’s last-gen versions have now been pushed back to May 5. The same was announced by developer Avalanche Software in a recently published tweet. “The team is working hard to deliver the best possible experience on all platforms and we need more time to do this,” the announcement reads.
The Nintendo Switch version is still expected to launch on July 25, as previously announced.
WB Games announced last month that Hogwarts Legacy sold over 12 million copies worldwide in its first two weeks, raking in over $850 million in revenue. Developer Avalanche Software previously said that there were no plans for DLC or expansions, but has since indicated that those plans might be being held back until the game is out on all platforms.
In our review of the game, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “Everyone will have to make their own choice on whether or not to engage with Hogwarts Legacy, but if you do choose to play it, you’ll find it to be a well-made and densely packed open world action RPG that adapts the Wizarding World universe in excellent ways.” Read the full review through here.
We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for the response to Hogwarts Legacy from fans around the globe. The team is working hard to deliver the best possible experience on all platforms and we need more time to do this. Hogwarts Legacy will launch for PS4 and Xbox One May 5, 2023. pic.twitter.com/UjEIPXDZj2
— Hogwarts Legacy (@HogwartsLegacy) March 6, 2023


text:
Mango is considered the king of fruit and proves this point even further Karnataka government has brought in the good news. The government has opened a mango portal in order to sell different varieties of fruit to its customers. “Dear customers, We are pleased to announce the opening of Mango Portal from 16th May 2022. This year the mango season is delayed by a month but will continue till early Aug 2022,” read a note on the portal. The portal has started taking in orders for different varieties of the fruit. The website has been launched in collaboration with India Post, which will deliver the fruits to customers’ doorsteps.
The different variety of mangoes on the portal includes – Alphonso, Badami, Apoos, Raspuri, Mallika, Himam Pasand and Kesar. KSMDMCL’s managing director CG Nagaraju, while speaking to The Indian Express said, “From the last two years both farmers and customers have benefited from this initiative.” This is not the first time that such an initiative has been taken. It also happened in 2020, amid the Covid-19 when fruitsvwere sourced from farmers in the Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur, and Kolar districts. KSMDMCL continued delivering mangoes through India Post in 2021 as well. The department now hopes for a good response in 2022.
Earlier in 2021, an ‘uncle’ from Mumbai helped an 11-year-old girl from Jamshedpur to pursue her dreams of buying a smartphone and pursuing online classes. Tulsi Kumari, who sells mangoes by the roadside, was left in shock when a certain Ameya Hete bought 12 mangoes from her worth Rs 1,20,000, paying Rs 10,000 for each mango. The money was transferred to her father Srimal Kumar’s account. News18 Lokmat Digital had reported on Kumari’s struggles with poverty. After learning about her fight against all the odds, the Mumbai businessman named Ameya Hete bought one dozen mangoes from her for Rs 1.2 lakh to help her buy a smartphone and continue with online classes. He has given Kumari a mobile phone worth Rs 13,000 and Internet recharge throughout the year thus ensuring that there would be no interruption in the education of the girl child.


text:
EU's €13bn tax decision angers Ireland, US, and Apple
By Eric Maurice
Ireland, Apple and the US have rounded against the European Commission after it ordered on Tuesday (30 August) the US tech firm to hand a record €13 billion of unpaid taxes to Ireland.
The EU executive ruled that "Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years".
Dear EUobserver reader
Subscribe now for unrestricted access to EUobserver.
Sign up for 30 days' free trial, no obligation. Full subscription only 15 € / month or 150 € / year.
- Unlimited access on desktop and mobile
- All premium articles, analysis, commentary and investigations
- EUobserver archives
EUobserver is the only independent news media covering EU affairs in Brussels and all 28 member states.
♡ We value your support.
If you already have an account click here to login.
Two tax rulings handed in 1991 and 2007 allowed Apple to attribute profits made by two Irish-incorporated companies, Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe, to a "head office" that the commission said did not exist.
The head office declared by Apple had "no office, no premises, no real activity" but allowed the company to pay less than 1 percent of tax on its profits generated not only in Ireland but in all the EU single market.
"Apple set up their sales operations in Europe in such a way that customers were contractually buying products from Apple Sales International in Ireland rather than from the shops that physically sold the products to customers. In this way Apple recorded all sales, and the profits stemming from these sales, directly in Ireland," the commission explained.
The commission said that the scheme amounted to illegal state aid and that Apple should now pay taxes it was allowed to avoid.
It will be up to Irish authorities, according to a formula designed by the commission, to decide the exact amount Apple will have to pay. But the EU executive said it could reach up to €13 billion plus interest.
Even though Irish finances would benefit from the commission's decision, the government in Dublin announced it would appeal to the European Court of Justice.
"I disagree profoundly with the commission's decision," Irish finance minister Michael Noonan said in a statement.
"Ireland position remains that the full amount of tax was paid in this case and no state aid was provided. Ireland did not give favourable tax treatment to Apple. Ireland does not do deals with tax payers," the statement said.
Dublin accused the commission of "undermining the international consensus [on the fight against tax avoidance], impending reform and creating uncertainty for business and investment in Europe."
Noonan said that appealing the decision was "necessary to defend the intergrity of our tax system, to privide tax certainty to business and to challenge the encroachment of EU state aid rules into the sovereign member state competence of taxation".
Apple's reaction was equally indignant.
The commission's "unprecedented" claim that Apple benefited from special tax deals "has no basis in fact or in law," the firm said.
"The European Commission has launched an effort to rewrite Apple’s history in Europe, ignore Ireland’s tax laws and upend the international tax system in the process," it said in a "message to the Apple community in Europe" posted on its website.
"Beyond the obvious targeting of Apple, the most profound and harmful effect of this ruling will be on investment and job creation in Europe," it added.
"Using the Commission’s theory, every company in Ireland and across Europe is suddenly at risk of being subjected to taxes under laws that never existed."
The US company also used the argument put forward by the Irish government and said that the commission was striking "a devastating blow to the sovereignty of EU member states over their own tax matters, and to the principle of certainty of law in Europe".
In Washington, a US treasury spokesman said that the "retroactive" decision was "disappointing" and would "undermine foreign investment, the business climate in Europe, and the important spirit of economic partnership between the US and the EU”.
Last week, the US treasury also said in a report that the commission's competition policies were harming international consensus and national sovereignty.
Depsite differences on some cases, EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager told journalists that she felt "very strongly" that the EU and the US shared the same approach on fair global taxation.
'A good precedent'
The decision was rather better received by politicians in Brussels.
Burkhard Balz, the economy spokesman for the center-right EPP group in the European Parliament said that the EU needed" "consistent, rigorous and bold enforcement of competition rules. That's what Vestager does."
Pervenche Beres, the economy spokeswoman for the center-left S&D group, said that the decision sent "a clear signal that those tax practices which create a race to the bottom between member states are no longer acceptable."
Fabio De Masi, from the left-wing GUE/NGL group, said the ruling "set a good precedent", but noted that the European Commission can "merely penalise the amount gained through illegal state aid, which then goes back to the very same member state that facilitated this tax fraud in the first place."
NGOs were both positive and critical.
The commission is "still addressing the symptoms but failing to treat the disease," said Tove Ryding from the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad).
"It's clear that unless the tax system is changed, the Commission will not be able to keep up with the tax-related acrobatics of multinational corporations," she said.
Elena Gaita, from Transparency International EU, welcomed Vestager’s efforts to tackle sweetheart deals but added that "these rulings have a limited deterrent effect."
"The Commission cannot investigate every dubious deal and corporations know this. We could avoid relying on the Commission and the resulting transatlantic tax squabbles by making companies’ financial information public,” she said.


text:
Smart Card Based Driving License in Uttar Pradesh
A MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed between State Transport Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, National Informatics Centre (NIC) and NICSI (National Informatics Centre Services Inc.) on 8th November 2012 for implementation of project ‘Sarathi’ in the state that entails issuance of electronic chip based Driving Licences to the citizens. The tripartite agreement was signed in the presence of state transport minister Shri Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh. Shri B.S Bhullar, IAS & Principal Secretary, State Transport Department, Shri Rajesh Bahadur MD, NICSI & Dr. Y K Singh, Technical Director, NIC signed the MoU. Speaking on the occasion Dr. Y.K Singh informed the gathering that the preparation work is already in progress and very soon the smart card based DLs will be issued to the public.
The smart card based DL system will not only simplify the process of getting a driving license it will also help in eliminating middlemen from the process and reduce the chances of bogus Driving Licenses. It will be mandatory for all the applicants to be physically present in the RTO office after implementation of the new system, as his thumb impression and signature will be taken on the biometric device and electronic pad respectively. The new DL will come in tamper proof plastic cards embedded with a microprocessor chip that will store the digital photograph, biometric thumb impression, digital signature and other important details of the applicant. The information will also be updated in the national register and state register through a backend process required by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The new DL will be available to the public from the new year (2013) as the Issuance of smart card-based driving licenses will commence in 10 districts including Lucknow, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Agra, Meerut, Jhansi, Allahabad, Varanasi, Aligarh and Barabanki from first quarter of 2013. The remaining districts will start issuing the new DLs from the second quarter of 2013. A token amount of Rs.250/-has been fixed as the fee for smart card based driving license.


text:
“From a long-term perspective, we have taken a very strong position in electric cars and we have committed to finance two million electric vehicles in the next five years,” Aggarwal told PTI.
Asked if the goal is not too steep, seen
In 2023-2024, the company plans to finance approximately 50,000 EVs.
“The next year we would do that three to four times. Obviously a lot of those numbers will be achieved after year two or year three, but there’s a 3-4x growth that we’re going through,” Aggarwal claimed. .
RevFin has also expanded its portfolio previously financing mainly electric rickshaws, adding electric two-wheelers, fast electric three-wheelers and four-wheelers, he added.
In addition to offering financing to products from a variety of EV manufacturers, RevFin also has strategic partnerships with manufacturers including Kinetic Green, Yatri, Saarhi, Mayuri, Lectrix,
When asked about funding requirements, he said, “Capital is the commodity for us. We always raise capital in equity and debt.”
As the company raises debt almost every month, Aggarwal said, “Equity we raise 12 to 18 months, which will continue. Every 12 to 18 months we will raise equity and then we will raise debt to leverage that equity .”
In October last year, the company had raised USD 10 million (more than Rs 80 crore) in a Series A financing round. As part of its growth strategy, the company plans to expand its presence to about 25 states from the current 16 and expand its footprint to about 300 cities, up from about 200 cities today.
Most of these will be aimed at electric two- and three-wheelers, while it will be for electric four-wheelers in the larger cities, he added.
Ashneer Grover’s new startup CrickPe is a fantasy sports app that will also reward cricketers
Soon you’ll be losing your old blue tick on Twitter – here’s everything you need to know
Three of the four premium smartphones sold in 2022 were iPhones